Short Film Review — "Winter's Blood"

There is not quite enough Yuletide horror in the world, and Parker Brennon is here to remedy that with Winter’s Blood. This latest short film of his, which clocks in at a brisk four minutes, is a fast and furious thrill ride. 

From the first few frames, we’re running alongside a woman being chased through the deep snow by a faceless figure who wants her body for a gruesome ritual. Winter’s Blood is a highly action-oriented narrative. With minimal dialogue, Brennon displays his knack for visual storytelling as the climax nears. The tricky thing about short form drama is that as soon as it starts, it’s ending. And Brennon wastes not a single second in telling this brutal tale…

The gaiety of Christmas offers a twisted juxtaposition to the nightmarish scene that unfolds on screen. Our heroine seeks shelter in a home that’s all decked out for the season, but of course the stockings above the hearth are not enough to expel the terror pursuing her. Practical string lights effortlessly add to the spooky atmosphere, too. Brennon and colorist Gabe Kaunitz prove that they know how to amplify saturation for maximum effect. 

Jonathan Snipes’ score also lends an ardent energy to the non-stop plot. Sound tends to be a component in cinematic storytelling that a lot of early filmmakers neglect, but that is certainly not the case here. The crucial audial elements up the terror and make the overall scenario all the more palpable. Sound designer Jeff Schmidt leaves no stone unsmashed. 

Winter’s Blood is a quick and relatively simple tale told solidly. It’s made with care and passion across the board, with every department getting the job done and then some. And all those filmic building blocks absolutely must come together pretty rapidly—by design—given that from the get-go we’re dropped right into the climax of what appears to be a supernatural slasher’s cold open. 

Emphasis on cold. I, too, have made movies in the dead of winter. So I have an idea how tough this cast and crew must be. Because these exterior scenes feel cold. I could’ve sworn I was there, in large part because I wanted to be. I love this kind of filmmaking. Indie and spooky. And wintry. 

Halloween season may have just ended, but, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Winter’s Blood seems like a movie that straddles holidays. A bloody and joyful (if you’re into that) bridge, if you will (and you definitely should).

Winter’s Blood is currently available to stream for free on YouTube.